Trump says he is ‘not confident’ over Gaza ceasefire

US President says enclave looks like ‘massive demolition site’ that has to be rebuilt ‘in a different way’

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US President Donald Trump on Monday said he was not confident that all three phases of the ceasefire in Gaza would be implemented.

Mr Trump was speaking from the Oval Office as he signed a batch of executive orders, hours after his inauguration.

“That's not our war over there, but I'm not confident, but I think they're very weakened,” he said, referring to Hamas.

On Sunday, after months of stalemate, a ceasefire began in Gaza, halting 15 months of conflict sparked by a Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people on October 7, 2023. About 46,900 Palestinians have been killed and much of the coastal enclave has been flattened since then.

Although much of the agreement between Israel and Hamas was negotiated under Joe Biden's administration, its implementation will take place under Mr Trump. His Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff took part in the mediated talks in Doha.

The agreement comprises three phases, beginning with a six-week ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and ending with Israel's complete withdrawal from the enclave and its reconstruction.

“Gaza is like a massive demolition site,” Mr Trump said. “It's really got to be rebuilt in a different way.”

Echoing plans from Israel's extreme right-wing settler movement, Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner last year said that Gaza has “valuable” waterfront property. Mr Kushner worked on Middle East issues for Mr Trump's first administration, and in his role advanced US efforts to further integrate Israel into the Middle East.

“Gaza is interesting,” Mr Trump said. “It's a phenomenal location on the sea, best weather. It's like, some beautiful things could be done with it, but some fantastic things could be done with Gaza.”

Earlier on Monday, he rescinded Biden-era sanctions imposed on settler groups and people accused of committing violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Mr Biden's administration had accused settler groups of undermining peace, security and stability in the West Bank. The sanctions froze their US assets and barred Americans from dealing with them.

Palestinians and rights groups say violence from Israeli settlers and land grabs have been on the rise, particularly during the war on Gaza.